Around 1,500 passengers were evacuated after a fire affected multiple coaches of the Amritsar-New Jalpaiguri train near Patiala on Friday.
A fire broke out in the coaches of the Amritsar-New Jalpaiguri Karmabhoomi Express near Sarai Banjara railway station in Punjab's Patiala district on Friday afternoon. According to reports from Urban Acres, Rediff, and The Indian Express, approximately 1,500 passengers were safely evacuated after the blaze affected the train on the Rajpura-Sirhind railway section.
The fire, which was first seen around 1.30 pm, reportedly started in the engine or a bogie and spread to three coaches, with a fourth coach suffering partial damage. Railway officials stated that the fire spread due to strong winds. While some sources reported no injuries, The Indian Express noted that two to three passengers sustained minor injuries while attempting to jump from the moving train.
Ambala Division Divisional Railway Manager Vinod Bhatia said railway safety mechanisms were activated immediately. The loco pilot and guard detached the affected coaches to prevent the fire from spreading, and power to the overhead electric lines was switched off. Eight other trains were diverted following the incident.
The district administration and railway teams arranged food, water, and transport for the stranded travellers. Two special trains were operated from Sarai Banjara towards New Jalpaiguri to ferry passengers to their destinations. Patiala Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Aggarwal and SSP Harmandeep Hans visited the site to oversee relief operations.
A forensic investigation has been initiated to establish the cause of the blaze. Normal rail traffic will be restored once the damaged coaches are removed and the section is cleared.
